Students. Teachers. Exchange participants and alumni. Colleges and universities. Professionals. Volunteers. What do they have in common? They all bring the power of international education to life during International Education Week (IEW)!

IEW is an annual celebration of international exchange programs. Held November 12-16, 2018, IEW is a joint initiative organized by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.

The United States Marine Corps has supported U.S. diplomacy since the founding of our nation. Today, Marine Security Guards (MSGs) stand duty 24 hours each day, seven days a week, at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. Happy birthday, Marines!

Did you miss key foreign policy developments this week? Each week, we recap the latest U.S. Department of State highlights spanning a wide range of global issues, events, and initiatives. Read more: https://go.usa.gov/xPw2u

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will travel to Paris, France November 10-11.

On November 10, he will arrive in Paris, where he will join President Trump in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of the first World War, including visits to memorial sites and cemeteries to honor our shared sacrifice and reaffirm the Transatlantic Alliance. On November 11, Secretary Pompeo will attend the formal WWI commemoration ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe and a working lunch with international partners hosted by Foreign Minister Le Drian to discuss cooperation on global priorities, including ways to counter Iranian malign behavior and to advance the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The Secretary will also participate in the President’s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Yesterday, during bilateral meetings in Washington, D.C., Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan and the Sudanese Foreign Minister Dirdeiry Mohamed Ahmed discussed the launch of the “Phase II” framework for our bilateral engagement. Phase II is designed to expand our bilateral cooperation, facilitate meaningful reforms to enhance stability in Sudan, and achieve further progress in a number of areas of longstanding concern. The United States welcomes Sudan’s commitment to making progress in key areas. Those key areas include expanding counterterrorism cooperation, enhancing human rights protections and practices, including freedoms of religion and press, improving humanitarian access, ceasing internal hostilities and creating a more conducive environment for progress in Sudan’s peace process, taking steps to address certain outstanding terrorism-related claims, and adhering to UN Security Council resolutions related to North Korea. As part of this process, the United States is prepared to initiate the process of rescinding Sudan’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism if the determination is made that all of the relevant statutory criteria have been met, and if Sudan makes progress in addressing each of the six key areas of mutual concern prioritized by the Phase II framework. The United States is ready to cooperate with Sudan and to monitor progress as we seek meaningful developments for the benefit of the Sudanese people and the region.

The United States condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the November 5 kidnapping of students and staff from the Presbyterian Secondary School of Nkwen near Bamenda, Cameroon. We call for the immediate and safe return of these students and staff to their families. The United States expresses grave concern over the burgeoning Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions. We urge an immediate halt to the indiscriminate targeting of civilians and burning of houses by Cameroonian government forces and to attacks perpetrated by both Anglophone separatists against security forces and civilians. The systematic intimidation based on ethnic and religious affiliation, including in Yaoundé and Douala, must stop. In memory of American missionary Charles Wesco and all others who have lost their lives in the Anglophone Crisis, we urge all sides to end the violence and enter into broad-based reconciliatory dialogue without preconditions.

"On behalf of the Department of State, I would like to wish all those celebrating #Diwali a joyous and prosperous holiday.

"Also known as the 'Festival of Lights,' this special occasion celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. Nearly a billion celebrants from around the world will light the diya, or lamp, as a reminder that good ultimately overcomes evil, understanding over ignorance, and kindness over animosity. Diwali is also a time of reflection and prayer when observers perform seva, or selfless service, without any expectation of reward or payment.

"As those celebrating decorate their homes with vibrant lights, I would also like to recognize the achievements of our friends in the United States observing Diwali who make important contributions to our country on a daily basis.

"Again, to those celebrating this joyous time I wish you a happy Diwali."

Yesterday, Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides at the State Department. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Christodoulides agreed on the importance of enhancing the U.S.-Republic of Cyprus relationship and welcomed the signing by Foreign Minister Christodoulides and Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs A. Wess Mitchell of the Statement of Intent on strengthening and developing the bilateral security relationship. The Statement of Intent will advance shared interests in combatting terrorism, enhancing maritime and border security, and promoting regional stability. The Secretary reaffirmed longstanding U.S. policy on resources in the Republic of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone and also said the United States continues to support Cypriot-led, UN-facilitated efforts to reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation, which would benefit all Cypriots.

With the completion of our five-year compact, MCC and the Government of Malawi have set the stage for more reliable power to be delivered across the country. At the same time, infrastructure upgrades and institutional reforms have secured the foundation for private sector investment while optimizing the potential benefits to women and local communities by promoting women’s economic empowerment through new job opportunities and reforms that incent...

Iran cannot be trusted to have vital constraints on its nuclear program lifted. The United States is committed to ensuring that Iran never comes close to possessing a nuclear weapon.

Starting November 5, 2018, all nuclear cooperation with Iran, except for the limited activities for which waivers are being granted, will be sanctionable. This includes:

Re-designating the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and 23 of its subsidiaries.

Placing new limits on Iran’s nuclear program significantly beyond current restrictions. Iran will not be able to pursue any new nuclear facilities with foreign assistance, including power reactors or hot cell facilities currently allowed under the JCPOA.

Involvement in the expansion of Iran’s nuclear capabilities beyond current limits will also be subject to sanctions.

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed a number of global and bilateral issues. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister agreed on the importance of ascertaining all of the facts in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and holding all of those involved accountable. They also discussed Iran sanctions, the situation in Nicaragua, and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke by phone today with Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen. They discussed Denmark’s public announcement of an arrest related to an Iranian plot to assassinate members of an Iranian dissident group living in Denmark. They also discussed the importance of strong collective EU action to hold Iran accountable for its continued use of terrorism on European soil. Secretary Pompeo praised Denmark’s swift and strong response and reiterated that the U.S. maximum pressure campaign against Iran is in response to this type of abhorrent behavior from the Iranian regime. Secretary Pompeo stressed that the United States stands with our European allies and partners in addressing the threat of the Iranian regime’s support for terrorism.

Iran cannot be trusted to have vital constraints on its nuclear program lifted. The United States is committed to ensuring that Iran never comes close to possessing a nuclear weapon.

Starting November 5, all nuclear cooperation with Iran, except for the limited activities for which waivers are being granted, will be sanctionable. This includes:

Re-designating the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and 23 of its subsidiaries.

Placing new limits on Iran’s nuclear program significantly beyond current restrictions. Iran will not be able to pursue any new nuclear facilities with foreign assistance, including power reactors or hot cell facilities currently allowed under the JCPOA.

Involvement in the expansion of Iran’s nuclear capabilities beyond current limits will also be subject to sanctions.